Basil Hayden's

Basil Hayden is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey introduced in 1992 as part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection, which also includes Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s. Named after 18th-century distiller Basil Hayden Sr., it honors his pioneering use of a high-rye mash bill—a tradition the brand continues by employing a mash of corn, rye, and malted barley that provides a spicier profile than other Beam offerings. The standard variant carried an age statement of 8 years until 2014, when it switched to an unspecific “Artfully Aged” designation. The brand has since expanded to include expressions such as Dark Rye, Subtle Smoke, Red Wine Cask Finish, and the 100% Malted Rye.